Hostess workers in St. Louis join national Bakers strike

The St. Louis Business Journal is reports Hostess workers in St. Louis have joined a national strike against the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread.

A walkout began Friday at plants across the country, and picketers at North Broadway and Taylor kicked off the St. Louis strike early Monday morning, KMOX reports. Read more here

Hostess Brands said it will be forced to liquidate and lay off most employees if workers mount a widespread strike.

The company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January, blaming high pension and debt obligations, and its plan to emerge from bankruptcy included cuts in worker pay and benefits. Hostess workers belonging to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union began a strike Friday at its Lenexa, Kan., bakery in response to court-approved pay cuts, the Dallas Morning News reports.

The maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread said Monday that the strike has prevented it from producing and delivering products, and it is closing bakeries in Seattle, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The facilities employ 627 workers.